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Big night out: Glasgow

Hogmanay for the highstepper

Ian McCurrach
Sunday 29 December 2002 01:00 GMT
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The vibe

A great night out in Glasgow is all about glamour. Think Hollywood, think Las Vegas, dress to impress in Versace (if you haven't got any, buy some in The Italian Centre) and get ready to hit this heady town running. Crammed with fabulous bars, restaurants and nightclubs, not to mention cool hangouts, including its very own Groucho, Glasgow throws up the best nightlife Scotland has to offer. No trip should cost more than about £6 in a cab.

Liquid

The in-place of the moment is the Kelly Cooper Bar, 158 Bath Street, in trendy mid-town. It's the eponymous brainchild of Scotland's own "It" girl, fashion stylist Kelly Cooper Barr, and comprises a chic lounge, restaurant and nightclub. Expect to see the likes of Ewan McGregor and Bobby Carlyle here. Elsewhere in mid-town, the media crowd meet at Groucho St Judes, 190 Bath Street, and champagne corks pop in the art deco Rogano's, 11 Exchange Place.

Refuelling

New kid on the West End block is Café Andaluz, 2 Cresswell Lane (0141-339 1111), where you can tuck into tapas in a Spanish/Moroccan interior, for under £10. Tempus at the CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street (0141-332 7959), attracts an arty crowd with signature dishes such as Truffle Cream and Trompette Risotto, for around £15. And at Nairn's, 13 Woodside Crescent (0141-353 0707), celebrity chef Nick Nairn cooks up three delicious courses for just under £30.

Go native

For touring theatre, opera and ballet, check out what's on at the Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street (0141-332 9000). The Citizen's, 119 Gorbals Street (0141-429 0022), and the Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate (0141-552 4267), offer up contemporary and classic dramas, while cutting-edge work is produced at the trendy Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), 350 Sauchiehall Street (0141-332 7521). For headlining and local comedy acts, head for The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road (0870 600 6055).

Party

Lowdown, 158 Bath Street, plays host to hot DJs who spin big club anthems with a smattering of retro hits. Back after an absence of three years, the legendary Sub Club, 22 Jamaica Street, is the place everyone wants to go to and no one wants to leave. The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, houses different top and mainstream club nights. Glasgay boyz get groovy on the floor at Bennetts, 90 Glassford Street.

Munchies

When the clubs close at 3am, the Glasgow cognoscenti head for Canton Express, 407 Sauchiehall Street, which is a city institution. Order a takeaway or eat in and soak up the alcohol with a bowl of chow mein. Open until 4am.

Chill

Browse at the Barras, Glasgow's enormous flea market in the East End, off the Gallowgate, open from 10am to 5pm at weekends. For a brunch with live jazz, check out Café Source (0141-548 6020) at St Andrew's in the Square, 1 St Andrew's Square. Open 12.30pm to 4pm. Booking essential.

Return flights from Gatwick with British Airways (0845 773 3377; www.ba.com) cost from £58. Virgin Trains (0845 722 2333; www.virgin.com/trains) offers returns from London Euston to Glasgow from £29. Malmaison (0141 572 1000; www.malmaison.com) offers a weekend rate of £90 per room per night.

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